President Bush defends his
actions to go to war-- calling them
noble, necessary and just.

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JEAN READS

*CG locator Washington, DC

JEAN READS

But, around the country,
protesters have taken to the streetst.

They say it's time to get out.

Bush defended his decision to
continue fighting saying it has
lessened the violence in Iraq.

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INQ=No one would argue that..

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OQ=.. for our enemies in Iraq.

<<3:30PKG/SUSAN ROBERTS PKG-

PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH: NO ONE WOULD
ARGUE THAT THIS WAR HAS NOT COME AT A
HIGH COST IN LIVES AND TREASURE - BUT
THOSE COSTS ARE NECESSARY WHEN WE
CONSIDER THE COST OF A STRATEGIC
VICTORY FOR OUR ENEMIES IN IRAQ. >>

sbahorich@wdbj7.com Kevin Assenat and Shane Fletcher
were part of a convoy targeted by a
roadside bomber.

Even though they both bare scars
of their time in the Middle East -they
say leaving now would be a huge
mistake.

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*CG locator Roanoke

:00

*CG locator Salem

May 2005

:11 QUICK!!!!

*CG 2line Kevin Assenat

Iraqi War Vet

:18

*CG 2line Shane Fletcher

Iraqi War Vet

:31

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OQ= IN THE YEAR I WAS THERE..

<
Fletcher have been sworn to protect and
serve in the jobs with the Roanoke City
Police department.

But these officers are also reservists.
In May 2005 their unit left from
Salem, in December of that same year
they suffered a direct hit.

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INQ= 14:06:26.00

KEVIN ASSENAT, IRAQI WAR VET: TOOK ME
ABOUT 12MOS TO RECOVER FROM MY INJURY..
COME BACK TO WORK- CHUGGING RIGHT
ALONG. (34)

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OQ=

Assenat ass-en-ay took shrapnel to eye
and both men will always suffer from
tinitis.

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INQ= 14:12:12.00

SHANE FLETCHER, IRAQI WAR VET: BEING
OVER THERE AND BEING INJURED... AND
GOING THRU THE THINGS WE WENT THRU JUST
MAKES YOU APPRECIATE LIFE A LITTLE BIT
MORE.. MAKES YOU REFLECT ON WHAT YOUR
VALUES ARE (20)

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OQ=

After the incident - Assenat ass-en-ay
came back to the states and spent time
recovering at Walter Reed. Fletcher
returned last summer.

Even after their experience they say
it's important American troops stay and
finish what they started.

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INQ= 14:07:15.00

KEVIN ASSENAT, IRAQI WAR VET: WHETHER
YOU ARE FOR IT OR AGAINST IT -AT THIS
POINT, WE'RE THERE. AND WE CAN'T TURN
OUR BACK ON THESE PEOPLE AT THIS POINT.
(20)** IF WE PULLED OUT NOW, IT WOULD
BE UTTER CHAOS -WE CAN'T TURN OUR BACK
ON THESE PEOPLE. (26)

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INQ= 14:12:58.00

SHANE FLETCHER, IRAQI WAR VET: WE'RE
THERE. IF WE PULL OUT I THINK A LOT OF
SOLIDERS HAVE DIED IN VAIN. BUT THAT
NOT A DECISION FOR ME TO MAKE. (05) I
DEFINITELY THINK WE'VE MADE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE YEAR I WAS THERE..

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OQ=

LIVE=SUSAN FULL BAM LIVE FULL

IRAQ FS IN MONITOR Both men are still active
reservists and their unit could be
called up at anytime.

They say they're not worried
about getting the call, but they are
worried about how it would affect their
families.

DOUBLE BOXES=SUSAN/JEAN-KEITH DOUBLE BOXES

It's estimated nearly
four-thousand troops have been killed
and the war has cost about 500-BILLION
dollars.

khumphry@wdbj7.com Glenda Edwards has been running
the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing

Authority since Ellis Henry left
abruptly last year

But now she can drop "interim"
from her title.

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*CG locator Roanoke

March 2007 Today, the Housing Authority's
Board of commissioners announced
Edwards' appointment as Executive
Director.

Board Chair Joseph Lee cited
Edwards' "outstanding performance and
leadership" during the transition, and
said the board is confident that with
Edwards at the helm, the housing
authority will provide "top-notch
services" to all of its residents.

50- BEDS PER 100- THOUSAND WOULD MORE
THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN
VIRGINIA. WE HAVE ROUGHLY, A LITTLE
OVER 22 PER 100- THOUSAND. SO OF THE
14- HUNDRED BEDS THAT WE HAVE NOW THAT
WOULD ADD ANOTHER TWO- THOUSAND. THAT
WOULD BE A HUGE INVESTMENT OF
RESOURCES. >>

VO-NAT VO-NAT

It cost the state 520- dollars
per patient every day they stay in a
state mental health facility.

Adding two- thousand beds would
cost almost 380- million dollars a
year.

<< Good evening, I'm meteorologist
Robin Reed in the SkyTracker7 Forecast
Center. Showers and a few
thunderstorms are possible as a strong
cold front sweeps across the region.
There's a slight risk of strong to
severe storms, with the biggest threat
being heavy rain and gusty winds. Most
of us should remain "storm-free", but
keep an eye to the sky. Temperatures

should remain steady in the mid 60s
with south winds 15-20mph. Some gusts
could exceed 30mph, especially in an
any storm which may develop.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Any storms end as the
front moves eastward. Showers will
continue with slow clearing by dawn.
Overnight lows will drop to near 40.
Behind the front, westerly breezes will
increase, gusting to around 40-50mph at
times in the higher elevations.
THURSDAY: Sunny and breezy. Winds will
relax by the end of the day, but most
of Wednesday will be highlighted by
northwesterly winds at 15-25mph with
gusts near 50mph. Afternoon highs are
forecast near 60. Thursday night will
be clear and chilly with lows in the
lower 30s. FRIDAY: The first full day
of spring will feature mostly sunny
with highs in the low and mid 60s.
Winds will be light from the southwest.
YOUR WEEKEND OUTLOOK: Saturday will
likely feature more clouds than
sunshine. Models are hinting at a
20-30% chance of a few light showers;
but most of the day we'll stay dry.
Highs are expected in the lower 60s.
Easter Sunday should bring no

weather-worries with mainly sunny
conditions; but it will be cooler in
the lower 50s! For weather anytime
turn to our webpage at wdbj7.com >>

mstevens@wdbj7.com Virginia Tech running back
Branden Ore has had more than his share
of second chances since he arrived in
Blackbsurg, today he officially ran out
of them as Frank Beamer announced that
Ore is no longer a part of the team.

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*CG locator Blacksburg

2006 Season The rising redshirt-senior
:00 from Chesapeake played in all 14 games
last season, starting 13. He led the
Hokies in rushing with 992 yards and
was second on the team in scoring with
10 touchdowns for 60 total points.

In 2006, Ore rushed for 1,137
yards and 16 TDs on the way to
first-team All-Atlantic Coast
Conference honors.

Ore testified as the key witness
in a federal drug case in January, and

mstevens@wdbj7.com The Virginia Tech Hokies open
play in the NIT tonight as they host
Morgan State at the Cassell.

Longtime Tech fans know that this
is actually a special year for Hokies
to be playing in this event.

This March marks the 35th
anniversary of the Hokies first
National Invitational tournament
championship when Don Devoe was the
coach and players like Bristow, Stevems
and Thomas were leading the charge.

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INQ=BITE

*CG locator New York, NY

1973 NIT Final Four

:00

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OQ=...92 TO 91 - 35 YEARS AGO." << Back in 1973 the NIT was a big deal
(END SOT) and the Hokies were thrilled to be in

the big Apple - posing in front of
Madison Square Garden as part of a star
studded New York Final four that
featured North Carolina, Alabama and
the Hokies title game opponent Notre.

Tech beat New Mexico, Fairfield
and Alabama by a total of four points
to make it to the title game.

Not surprisingly it was tight, as
well. Bobby Stevens hit this jumper
and drew a foul - and then made a free
throw with 43 seconds left to go in
overtime to make it a 91-to-90 game in
favor of Notre Dame.

The Irish had a chance to ice it,
but Gary Brokaw missed the free throw
and Digger Pheelps could only watch as
the Hokies called timeout with 12
seconds left in the game.

Ed Frazier inbounded to Bobby
Stevens who went one on one with Dwight

Clay. He managed to get off a shot but
it bounced off sharply to the right.
Stevens tracked it down and his follow
hit nothing but net at the buzzer

NAT SOUND

Stevens scored 7 points in the overtime
and 17 for the game as the Hokies won
the 1973 NIT title over Notre Dame
92-to-91 - 35 years ago.